Oil-well pump



H. L. CRULL OIL WELL PUMP June 3, 1930.

Filed April 16, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l H. L. cR'ULL OIL WELL PUMP Jun s, 1930.

Filedy April 16,*a 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wag/.4.

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H. L. CRULL June 3, 1930 OIL WELL PUMP Filed April 16, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 y a 5 4 Mu, M o w w n fo 3 8 3 3 V ,7 Q w f be .1J w A\ v, ENEEKST IN V LN TOR. aro/dLfa/l AT'ToRNEYs.

lPatelritecl' .lune 3, 1930 PATENT OFFICE 'Y ,Hano'rn n onulnmr TULSA, OKLAHOMA L l porn-WELL., PUMP Y Application meu Aprilia,

f My inventionrelates vto oil-well pumps of VVthe plunger type wherein a traveling valve is opened against hydrostatic pressure on-the f down stroke of the plunger.

l v With the ordinary pump Lof this `typte downward pressure onthe rods must be suflicient to lput under pressure the liquid con- L fined in the lower part of the pump barrel for opening Vthe traveling valve against hydrol'static pressure ofthe columnfof fluid in the well which, due' to the slow opening of vthe valve and to the thrust on the rods necessaryv to vovercome f the resistance against their downward movement, causes the rods to ofthe pumprinxp'roportion to the shortening or buckling of therods. l a

It is the principal object of this invention to secure maximum capacity of such a` pump by reducing strain'on the rods and resistf ance to the downward Vtravel'of the plunger by reducing the force required in lifting the 4valve vthrough intensification of thepower japplied'for opening the valve.

In accomplishing' this and other objects of the ,invention I have provided improved details of structure, ,the `preferred forms of which are illustrated `in the drawings, wherein: l e Y 30 Fig. lis a central vertical section of part of an oil well equippedwith 'a pumpvconstructed according :to my `invention.

Figs.` 2, 3 and Llzare enlarged perspective.

viewsofthe upper, middleandlower porfv tions of the pump, parts being broken away and in vertical section'.7 y

Figs. 5, (Sand 7 are central vertical sections of parts of the pumpillustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4f.'

Fig. 8 is a cross Fig. 6. -f A Figg9 is-a crosssection on the. line 99, Fig. 6, and .Y :Fi 1() is ajcross section on the line 10-10,

` Referringmore in detail to the drawings: 1 designates the lower portion of a well hole; `2. well casing, includingthe' shoe 3, whereby the casing is supported oncap rock .sectionl on the line 8 8,

1 50' 4 above the oil sands 5; 6 well-tubing which buckle and bend andther'eby reducecapacity f accompanying y 1928. Serial No. 270,227.

extends ythrough the casingy and terminates in the usual perforated strainer 7, within the well pocket 8, and 9 a pump barrel which may consist of a section of tubingy of the same diameter as the well tubingi, interposed between the strainer section 7 and next upper tubingsection, and coupled thereto by 'the usual threaded collar 10 above the pump and a special fitting 11 below the pump, includingoia diaphragm 12 fork separating the pump barrel from the strainer section 7. Mounted on the diaphragm'ofthe lower coupling 11 is a standing valve 13 for admitting fluid to the pump upon the up-stroke of the plunger.

14 designates the pumpplunger including a piston 15 adapted to reciprocate in close relation to the pumpV barrelv and provided with the usual packing rings 16 and neck 17, the piston and neck having a bore 18 through which oil is transferred from the lower to the upper portion of the cylinder upon down stroke of the plunger. The neck 17 is provided with a tapered valve seat 19, seating a traveling valve 20 which is unseated on the down stroke to permit passage of oil through the bore but is seated on the up stroke to trap and lift the oil previously,admitted'through the valve. Y

`The plunger is operably .connected with sucker rods 21 which are actuated from the l v'top of the well as in common oil field practice.

Y The pump thus far described is substan- `tially of standard construction so that oil .drawn into the lower end of the working e5 barrel through the standing valve on the up stroke is transferred through the piston upon the down stroke through lifting of the working valve, which seats on the beginning of the next up stroke to trap the oil above the piston and during the stroke lifts the entire column of oil in the tubing and discharges the capacity of the pump out ofthe well.

c Thus it is apparent that on the down stroke the traveling valve must lift against the hydrostatic head of oil in the tubing and the downward force of the rods must be great enoughy to put under pressure the fluid trapped below the piston to lift the valve.

Since the effective area above the traveling 109 valve7 acted uponby the fluid andtendiugto hold the valve closed, is greater than the effective area below the valve uponivhich the virapped'liuid acts to opent-he valve7 it is hecesf vllith.my'invention I couvertapart ol t ie `fluidV above' the Vpluriger iiito a Workingforce einst the valve este 'supe sary-'that the unit pressurefof fluid 'below vtheY traveling valve be greater thauthe unit presf sure above the vvalve beafore1the'-v`alve cau operisllheretore, the' total orcerequired of the rods ,to'startthe valve is equal tothe dit rference iii pressure timesthe unitf areaoll the bottom side of the 'traveliiigvalve Vplunger and, vas before stated, the required resultant `force of the rods is, in ldeep Wells, oecasioually sogreat as to cause-the -rodstofbuckle-aud fracture and the tubing; or casmgto part. liu

drostatiehead reduces-eli ,noyer-'the pun by sodiverti'rigf iL plement and vi-utleiuiify"the force exertedby the 'suclerrods aud" assist the rods ifover'f eoiiiiugi the' hydrostatic pressureiifo'riu ly resisting opeuirig'of the valve.1 i

Threaded to-tlieneck lof the pistouE l5 :fa-valve cage coir'iprisi'ngfa tubular connector 220i smaller cllia'meter thafiilthe Working barary threads 24 onfthe neck and i an inwardly. pro] e'ctirrg shoulder i 25 for seating against the neck so' that Wl'ieii the position.'` f. .p a- Y Extend no u Wardl f withmthe caO'e' isi'a Y 2:: b f,

recess' 2'6 aofsuiiicieut depth vto 'freely receive ythe valver irieiuber` '20,- lthe Walls of the' recess 'Y -beingffsl'tted as atQTtOperm-it passageef oil 5 The iiiteiisier vcylinder 'l'extendsu'pw y`ly wit-hui 'the pumpy barrel,- ai'id threaded onto recess 36 'in its lower keri-d 'corre 'ducedtlirough'bore 3'? opeiriiifi'oii'r the recess discharged through' the'` valve. 'Ehe cage i is also provided Yat its upper eiidjvvitu' stepped,

internally threaded rc`ce'ssesj- 28 aud 729T arid ktl'rreadediu'tofthe inner recess isa tubeBO supporting la valvefactu'atuig cylinder Slat its upper end throughal cou'- plingf 32offthe samel external diameter' as? the 'tube and cylinder and providedlxvith'reduced extensions 33 and lyvvhcihfare threaded into upper and lower eiids of the tube support 'l the intensifier Cylinder to gliriuflyY secure J e inteusiercyliiider to the tube.

the upper end of hecylieder e sleeve veff' larger` diameter the u they cylinder and having the imIerdiaiue'ter-oii theV cyliiider audV areijbl'e iii the' bore 'and prolvided Witharieularged `head 40' atits lower.

' able Awith the Ashoul'duer' u euchslidable iuthe cylinder? 3l a'id'engage- V poriiupivrd inove meut of therod. 1k i e. l 71 The rodV extends upwardly through: th sleeve and ifs rvprovid-ed "at it'supper end' with a reduced threaded extensieu 4l to' WhichE is threaded sucker rod connector 42 'hai-'ing u threaded'pin 43 ou itsupper yend to receive the box 44 yofthe sucker rodsgQl', the connectorbe` "ing preferably 'of larger diameter-then the rod to provide Yafstop `shoulder 45 for coutaet k Y rd movement et with the sleeve thegsuclrerrod 17,*

" Thus itisapp'arent tlra'tiv 3 5 on doyvuiva ds iu ve on the downfstrolie'the.rod will riore il lthrough thesleeye until thejshoulder 45 cou` taetsl the sleeve," when "contiuued 'doymvarr movemfentsoftheroos will force the sleeve f' downwardly, causing .the 'piston to `Lm`eve downwardly .-ril t f afwerking barrel. f Ou re-V turn movementofY he suclrferrods, the rod 89 p l beginning et bot'hj the' up au portant feature ofl myjiiiventiofnziri thatu such"y movement "is :utilized to J actuatef tensitierA mechanism forjliftiug';

ltis ap rtrent that the s 'rodf4ff1'y is qualto' h -ofthesuckerfrods; u' 'The valve actuating pis oni 5 4 com ftube? having A a reduced jsli der Apo 5 5 -atjrts'flovver end aidsleeve'dfo n 5' before described, under t0n-47,. iudfer 31 iaiid bore sin 1r the cylarea of the piston 54 is much greater the' the" to the piston 54 is multiplied, Which-'i V601.through `which they *,p'isto" r' M au j haviug a laterally exteiidfiirg' G2 projecting through slet`v to .cyli err-3 1.. 1 A7 similar* yeh-e {64 s' albi "msfly and df ou vide'd with openings end yof the tube is alsoprovide'd with prolecting arms and 66 projecting through slots 67 in the tube 30 aligningjwith the slots 63 so-that the arms 61 and 65 and the arms62 and' 66 Vmay, be connected by bars 68 and 69y which extend along thesides of the cylinder 31 and its supporting7 tube 30 and are ipro- 54, thelower yoke is lifted accordingly, idue recess 72 containing a head 73' formed on `the lowerendofa'valve stem 74 which v'extends upwardly into-the tubeBO throughfanopening 75 in the valve cage and through an opening 76 in the yoke 64, the stem being suspended from the yoke by a nut 77 threaded upon the upper end ofthe stem.

, The `valvevis retained on thehead of the stem'yby a threaded bushing -7 8, sleeved on the stem and threaded into the recess ofthe valve as shown in Fig. 6, to provide loose mounting of the valve on-the-stem for insuring perfect seating of the Vvalve vwhen the piston is von the up stroke.y The side wall of the valve is also y'preferably provided with openings 79 for a purpose presently apparent. Fluid for'ysupplying the intensifier cvlindervand for replenishing fluid lost past the cups ofpistons 54 is admitted into the cylinder through a port 8() extending centrally vthrough the coupling 32 and opening from a sand and gas eliminator 81, including concentric tubes'82 andy 83 screw threaded 1n a nipple 84 threaded into the connect-or and having a port 85 aligning with l'the port 8O andthe inner tube 83, the nipple being providedwith a valve seat'86 for seating, an upwardly opening ball check 87, which is yieldingly urged Vto its seat by a spring 88,k one end of which bears against the ball check and the other against a shoulder 89 formed inthe Y' port-80.

'Cil

The tube'83 extends `to a pointl adjacent the closed lower end 90 of the outer tube 82' and the nipple is provided at the upper end i; of the' tube 82 withy ports 91 slightly below port-s 92 'in the tubing 30 so that oil is admitte d fronivthe working barrel to the separa-- tor'tubes through the ports 91 and 92 where it is compelled vto pass downwardly between the Vtubes to enter the open lower end of vthe y inner tube 83 and then pass upwardly past the ,check valve intol the cylinder.

ln order to protectthe intensifier mechay nism and retain the connectingbars on the arms of the yokes, a perforate tubing 93 is sleeved over tlieyintensiiier mechanism and.

screwedv into the threadedrecess Vv28 inthe cage, the upperendof the tubing extending above the sleeve 35 and being'prov-i'ded with a guide member 94`having a central opening Y d d 0 to receive the, arms.4 VThus as the upper yoke is lifted by the `piston 95 for constituting it a bushing for the rod connector 42. Y

d Operation of the deviceconstructed and assembled asdescribed is asfollows:

yUpon-the beginning of` a stroke of the sucker rods, the rod 21- moves idly through the sleeve as far as movement ofthe pump plunger is concerned, downward movement of the plunger being resisted by-oil confined in the lower end of the working barrel between the working and standing valves,'the sole purpose ofthe initial movementbeing 'to actuate the intensier piston.

The intensifier piston being attached rigidly to the rod 39 isv moved downwardly in the cylinder'bore 53 of the actuating piston 54, applying pressure to the liquid contained therein and exerting an upward force on said piston 54, which is transferred to the yoke 59 at the top of the barrel` to lift the yoke 64. The yoke 59 being 4connected with the yoke 64 at the bottom of the barrel through the bars 68 and 69, and the yoke 64 being connected with the working` valve 2O through the stem 7 4, the upward force generated by' the intensifier piston tendsto lift the valve 2O against hydrostatic head of oil inthe tubing. With .the valve open and the shoulder 45 on the rod in contact with the head or sleeve35, resistance to downward movement of the pump plunger within the worknector which acts to part the valve seat from y the valve. Y n o When the sucker rods start on the up stroke they move free of the piston as on the `down stroke `until the headj40 engages the shoulder 38 in the sleeve 35. During this initial movement the piston is retained in its lower position by weight of the oil column abovc the piston.

- vThe intensifier piston is lifted in its cylinder to relieve pressure on the actuating piston so that the actuating piston is permitted to return toits normal position, as shown in Fig.

5, to allow` the traveling valve to seat and retain the oil above thepiston. Continued upwardmoveinent of the'rods carries the plunger piston 15 upwardly to lift the column of oil in the tubing and atthe same time draw in a charge of oil through the standing valve. Y

lOil leaking past the intensifier or valve aci tuating piston cups on the down stroke will be replaced through the check valve on the up stroke, due to hydrostatic pressure in the tubing.

' f ing of the plunger, a primary pistone bythe rod, secondary plstonjeo'n' eoted' with the valve on the rods ata point adjaoentto thetrave'l'- ing valve and utilizing the intensified force to lift the Working \`7'a l`/'e',' f['vv yrelieve undue strain von the rods andovereo'meldieulties veneountered in ufseof :pumps ofordinary' con# strufetion`.' 1 Y,

what r @Iain-1j and desire'to' Secure brille@ l@ In ?eombination fuitha Working barrel,

means'ior unseatingtbefvalve. l

2.111 combination Wit'hfa Worling'lbarrel;

a plungeroperable in th' e barrel', a' valve sub-y je'ot to hydrostatic pressure of superimposed:

iuid and vcontro'l-ling `adini'ssion ofA fluidgto the plunger, means for 'actuating the plunger- Withinitial slip movement'at opposite limits V.or travel ofthe plunger,` and meansV respon- @its downward slip movementforgunseating' l the valve. 3. In ycombination Witlr aV Working barrelL `oftherod- 4.' In Ycombination with a Workingb sive to the -lunfr'er aotuatin 'mea-'ns durin and apumprod, l primary plunger member operableV in the barrel, eoniie'eted-valve' and piston nir-nnbersl at opposite en dsloi the' primaryplunger membe'rg` an intensifierrv plungeroonneeted ivitl'ifth'e pump-rod andV operableto shift the piston .against hydro5 static pressure on said valv'eondown stroke,

rrel

' and a pump ro'd,"ayplunger in the barre 'a movement oflthe primary pistonto lifty f Y* .l f i. ,if "fl Vdownseating valve exposedy tof hydrostatic valve controlling flow through the.'plunger,k

pressure in thebarrel and controlling el and responsive to downward 5, Ineonbinationyvith av pump barrolia-nd a'pj'un-ip ;rod,x a plunger in thebarfreh af valve opening against hydrostatic pressure inthe barrel to admit liu-id vvth'roughthe plunger, 7and hydraulic, means ;respons1ve. on initial valveopening against hydrostatie pressure 'ina the bai-'rel to, admit iuid: through the 7'.k In'eoinbinat'ion* Wit-lr a :pump barrel? Vand a pump ro`d, aj plunger in*y the barrel, a" valve Y opening against* hydrostatie4 pressure: tlie barrel tosadnnt" Huid th-rou'glf'the plunger, and means responslve to initial movementof 1 afpnmpfrod', a plunger vin the. barrel,L a=, val`ve i conifo'llii'ngcw t@ @harlingen mais @e5-rhs,

Vforoperating"theyplunger, having initial* dlejmovement atopposi'te'limits of its travel, and? means responsiveto ridlerinovjenent of, f I

g meansfin 'oileflireetion for,

avalvesubv 9. Incombination Witlia oiimplbarrfelfand line in@ the 712.1111; eombinationiwith a pump bar rel 'and apumpro'd, apl'unger inthe barrel,- a

ferential diameter aetuatable" responsive to Vinitial movement of the rod to open thevalve.

megeve dissensi-y i555@ @wiefi-eui'eopef operably Connected vith 'tliefvva'lveg a see'-Vv v0nd yolef member to open-the valve, and means eo -ineeted` With the' 'rod including a: prim-ary plston operable'to eeet operation'of the ary piston in said YChamber 'f ope'rable on l ondar'y piston uponV initialv movement oftheYUV rod and a member engageab'le vvith the plungff' er to. innove the plungerupon continued move? Y ment offtherodrin'thesameidireetion. 10. ln combination With 1a' p'urnpj Vbarrel valve eontiolling flew,through'the' plunger,

pli'ng i einbei" oatingin thei plunger fand y and pump rod-,plungerfinthe bariehfa a elinderfanehored in tlie'plungenfa' couf connected with the v`alve,-. a :secondaryY piston 95 l, intheeyllndeifoperableonthe coupling mem-V f;

' hevalveya primary pistonoperlood Y ing; delayed? Connection wi'tnthe Coupling andajpumpfroh a'y plunger lin the barrel, 'a

valvetojthe secondary piston,land primary ,L

piston'reeiprooable inthe bore Vbythe pump-* y rod to elieet movement of the secondary pisvalveY controlling iovv "through the plunger,

conn'eetionslr 13; Inf combi am with' a pimp' andai pump rod, plunger inthe barrel, a

valve Controlling Hovvfthrouglithe plunger, a f

carried by' the'plung .,fe"r,` Cylinder oar# ried by theti'ibe, the vtube andoylinder hav# ing aligi'i'mgslots a secondary piston -in the I eylinder'- ayokesl'dable the'slots of the cylinder and connected with thesecondary piston, a yoke slidable in the slots of the tube and connected with the valve, rods connecting the yolres, and a primary piston operable by the pump rod to elect movement-of the secondary piston to move'the valve through the yoke and rod connections. f

14. In oombinationwith a pump barrel and a pump rod,arreciprocating plunger in the barrel having a downseating valve controlling flow through the plunger, a cylinder anchoredto the plunger, ya secondary piston in the cylinder having 'a bore therein, a primary piston slidable in the bore and actuated bythe pump rod to effect movement of the secondary piston, means Vconnecting the secondary piston with the valve and means for supplying a piston actuatingV fluid to .the

kcylinder upon upward travel of thel primary piston.

"15. In combination with a pump barrel barrel to admit fluid above the plunger, and l y and a pump rod, arecip'rocating plunger in the barrel vhaving a downseating valve controlling llowthrough the plunger, a cylinder anchored to the plunger and having a f Huid inlet, a secondary lpiston in thecylin'der having a bore therein, a primary piston slidable in; thebore vand actuated bythe pump rod to elect movement of the secondary pisf ton, meansy connecting the secondary piston f with the valve, and a sandy and gas Aseparator connect-ed with the inlet comprising spaced tubes having oil inlets opening to the punp barrel :for supplying liquid to the cylinc er.

'f 16. In combination with a pump barrel` and a' pump rod, a lreciprocating plunger in the barrel having a downseating valve controlling low through the plunger,ra cylinder anchored to the plunger, a secondary piston in the cylinderhaving a bore'therein,

' a primary piston slidable vin the bore;k and ofthe secondary piston, means connecting the secondary pistonwith thek valve, and a actuated by the pump rod to effect movement checkrvalve connected with` theY cylinder to ladmitY fluidV from thegworking lbarrel `upon v upward movement of the primary piston.

17.'In combination lwith a pumpy barrel anda pump'rod, a plunger in the barrel, a valve controlling flowu through the plunger, a cylinder anchored inthe plunger, a secondary piston slidable in the cylinder and Y having a ybore therein, means connecting the valve to` theY secondary piston, a primaryV piston reciprocablein the bore, a head for the cylinder,and a rod slidable inv the'head and vconnected withthe primary piston and with the'pump rod andhaving stop shoulders :for engaging the cylinder` head at the end of each stroke of theprimary piston to connectthe plungerl with the pump rod.

f y18. In combination witha pump barrel, a

plunger in the barrel, anda plunger actux ator,a valve movable vagainst pressure in the 

